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Inside the Mind of Rose West: Wife, Mother, Monster
A devastating account of the depraved crimes of the UK’s most prolific serial killer, Rose West, and an analysis of the psychology that drives someone to abuse and murder.Rose West was, on the face of it, a typical mother living with her husband, Fred, and their children in a three-storeyed terraced house in Gloucester. But behind the building’s modest facade, 25 Cromwell Street was the scene of truly terrible crimes, an authentic House of Horror.
Inside the family home, the many young female victims lured there and the couple’s own children were subjected to horrific, prolonged sexual violence and torture. It would take decades before the Wests’ dark secrets were finally discovered, but do we know the full story of their depravity yet?
Nine bodies were dug up from beneath their home, but how many victims were buried elsewhere?
Fred confessed – as a ‘gift’ to Rose – to having murdered on his own, but did he truly act alone?
Or was Rose, in fact, the driving force in their folie à deux, their shared psychosis?
True crime writers Farber and Daniel get to the bottom of these questions and more, including how the killer couple’s psychology and relationship changed over time.
Inside the family home, the many young female victims lured there and the couple’s own children were subjected to horrific, prolonged sexual violence and torture. It would take decades before the Wests’ dark secrets were finally discovered, but do we know the full story of their depravity yet?
Nine bodies were dug up from beneath their home, but how many victims were buried elsewhere?
Fred confessed – as a ‘gift’ to Rose – to having murdered on his own, but did he truly act alone?
Or was Rose, in fact, the driving force in their folie à deux, their shared psychosis?
True crime writers Farber and Daniel get to the bottom of these questions and more, including how the killer couple’s psychology and relationship changed over time.
- GenresTrue Crime
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2025
27 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2025
Every time I pick up a book about Rose or Fred West, I am once again shocked and saddened to learn what happened to their victims and indeed their own children. This book gives you an overview of the life of Rose West from childhood until she met and married Fred West. It also gives you background information on him and his early life. Somehow that she is a female and should naturally be maternal makes her crimes all the more sickening and shocking to me personally.
This book isn't the easier read, but it details the facts of the crimes they committed together and even go as far as to let you know how their surviving children ended up and about Rose herself. Which is a nice touch as the poor children went to hell and back having those two as parents. Not only seeing various lodgers and siblings disappear but also to knowing their mum was prostituting herself in front of them. Seeing and hearing things children never should have to.
Rather than sensationalising their crimes, this book tries to investigate what led to them carrying out so many heinous acts. Both Rose and Fred had very deranged upbringings from abuse to insestuous relationships at home, but how does this lead on to this couple being so terribly wicked and getting away with abuse and murder for so long.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gemini Adult Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a must for true crime fans.
This book isn't the easier read, but it details the facts of the crimes they committed together and even go as far as to let you know how their surviving children ended up and about Rose herself. Which is a nice touch as the poor children went to hell and back having those two as parents. Not only seeing various lodgers and siblings disappear but also to knowing their mum was prostituting herself in front of them. Seeing and hearing things children never should have to.
Rather than sensationalising their crimes, this book tries to investigate what led to them carrying out so many heinous acts. Both Rose and Fred had very deranged upbringings from abuse to insestuous relationships at home, but how does this lead on to this couple being so terribly wicked and getting away with abuse and murder for so long.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gemini Adult Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is a must for true crime fans.
April 17, 2025
A really hard read but unputadownable (I'm sure that's a word)
This book goes into the childhoods of both Fred and Rose. It has the details of the brutal murders that took place, details about the victims' lives, the investigation, and the court case. Including after the case and how it affected their children aswell as an insight into Rose's life in prison and her brief friendship with Myra Hindley.
It's an absolutely heartbreaking case that angers and upsets you.
The book is written in chronological order, so it's very easy to follow and to build up that picture of just how monstrous these people actually were.
I've read a lot of books about this serial killer couple and even used Fred West as a case study for my criminal psychology course, so I've read ALOT about him.
This book is a must-read for true crime fans, and I don't like this little series. This is the second one I've read, and I have the other 2 on my bookshelf already.
This book goes into the childhoods of both Fred and Rose. It has the details of the brutal murders that took place, details about the victims' lives, the investigation, and the court case. Including after the case and how it affected their children aswell as an insight into Rose's life in prison and her brief friendship with Myra Hindley.
It's an absolutely heartbreaking case that angers and upsets you.
The book is written in chronological order, so it's very easy to follow and to build up that picture of just how monstrous these people actually were.
I've read a lot of books about this serial killer couple and even used Fred West as a case study for my criminal psychology course, so I've read ALOT about him.
This book is a must-read for true crime fans, and I don't like this little series. This is the second one I've read, and I have the other 2 on my bookshelf already.
January 30, 2026
This is the first true crime book that I have ever read, and it was a harrowing experience. I have seen loads of true crime documentaries, which come across as quite matter of fact. This book went into the lives of the victims, which made it feel much more real.
Fred and Rosemary West were truly evil people, who thought only of their own gratification. I feel so sorry for their children and their victims' families.
It is definitely worth a read and it is one book that I will never forget.
Fred and Rosemary West were truly evil people, who thought only of their own gratification. I feel so sorry for their children and their victims' families.
It is definitely worth a read and it is one book that I will never forget.
June 23, 2025
Inside the Mind of Rose West is a gripping true crime read I couldn’t put down. I’ve always believed Rose was the leader in the crimes, and this book gives fascinating insight into her psychology and the chilling details. As someone who loves UK cases and stories about female offenders, this was perfect. Five stars from me!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
April 22, 2025
Always horrified by any book about Rose and Fred West
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews